In 1848, a sawmill worker named James Marshall reached down into the stream bed of the American River in California -- and came up with the future of the West in the palm of his hand. He had discovered gold. During the next year alone, more than 50,000 fortune-seekers swarmed into the Sierra Nevada in a headlong scramble for riches. Like many "49ers," William Swain left his home and family to endure hardships and disappointments for a "pocketful of rocks." Wild mining camps with names like Whiskey Diggings, Grizzly Flat and Murders' Bar sprang up -- and then disappeared with each new strike. A once-sleepy village on a magnificent bay changed overnight into the thriving international city of San Francisco; a merchant declared himself "Emperor of North America"; and a shrewd Mormon shopkeeper became the gold rush's first millionaire. But with the overwhelming influx of Americans, thousands of Indians were killed in the pursuit of land and slave labor, foreign miners were coerced from mining and Mexican-Americans lost their land. The Gold Rush changed the West forever..
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2013It's 2013 kids, time for HD. Thanks.Score: 1/5
Good series but Mormon focusGood, but far too much emphasis on Mormonism..Score: 3/5
Briscos is rightTried to watch this for about 30 minutes and the SD just ruins it. The sweeping majestic views are awful in SD compared to HD and it makes the whole experience seem flat and uninteresting. The interviews with historian commentators did stimulate me to do some online research on some things but the pics and info online was much better than what I was seeing in this documentary and I found myself looking at my second computer screen more than at the one playing this Ken Burns production..Score: 2/5
This is goldThe other comments say its time for HD. This series is from 1996. It looks crapy on Netflix too. It's the cameras used at that time....Twenty years ago. This is one of the most educational docs you will ever be able to watch in your life..Score: 5/5
Just can’t trust anymoreHe’s gone too woke…probably need to scrutinize all future projects. Sad..Score: 2/5
This is brilliantOkay folks, why do you watch a documentary.. to learn something, or to watch something? Anyone who trashed this production because it is in SD misses the point. Excellent story telling and incredibly educational. I have watched this several times now and learn something every time. Definitely recommend..Score: 5/5
OutstandingExtremely well put together documetary series, way above average. If this were available in HD, I would buy it..Score: 5/5
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